Piano and music rack therefor



M. A. HEALY. PIANO AND MUSIC RACK THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN [3, I919.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARQUETTE A. 'HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, LSSIGNOR- TO LYON & HEALY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PIANO AND MUSIC RACK THEREFOR.

' Application filed To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, MARQUETTE A. Hniinr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pianosand Music Racks Therefor, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pianos and par ticularly to music rests or racksfor the same.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a piano having amusic rack which will support the music when the cover of the piano isclosed, but with the keys accessible, there being certain times when itis desired to play the piano in this condition.

A further object of the invention is to make it unnecessary to have morethan one music rack, thereby saving expense and complication. I

In accordance with my invention 1 provide the piano with a music rack orsupport which can be used in the piano when the cover is open and thepiano in its usual playing position, and which can also be removed fromthe piano and placed in position upon the closed top of the same whensaid top is lowered into a closed position. Thus when the top is in thatposition and fall board open to expose the piano keys, the music rackmay be used when playing notwithstanding the top is closed.

in the accom anying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a grandpiano having a music rack or support embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the music rack or support by itself;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2 on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section of one of the sides of the piano.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a grand piano having a top or cover 12provided with a hinged front portion 3. This top or cover 2 may be swungor tilted about one edge so as to swing it into a more or less inclinedopen position, as desired for playing.

On top of the piano cover 2 I show a music rack or support. a While thissupport may Specification of Letters Patent.

January 13, 1919.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

Serial No. 270,775.

be constructed variously, I have shown it provided with two end members5+5, and two intermediate members 6+6. extended between and secured tothe members 5-5, all the members 55 and 66 being preferably flat so thatthe support as a whole may rest readily upon theflat piano cover 2. Amusic supporting member 7 is hinged to the front member 6 so that it maybe swung into an upright position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, orinto ahorizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 3. Thusthe member 7 may be swung into upright or horizontal position, asdesired.

in order that the music rack 1 may not mar or scratch the piano cover 2,when placed upon the same, said rack 4 has its lower surface providedwith suitable cushion supporting devices, such for example, as therubber balls or lugs 8-8, Fig. 3. These are preferably secured to theunder side of the members 66, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Thusthe music rack or support maybe safely put in position on the pianocover, when said cover is closed.

In Fig. 1, the fall board 10 of the piano is shown closed, but obviouslysaid fall board may be tilted or swung back and up so as to expose thekeys for playing, and this may be done, irrespective of the position ofthe cover 2. Thus-when the cover 2 is down the fall board 10 may e ineither open or closed position, being open when it is desired to playand still retain the cover 2 in a downward position. The piano rack orsupport is preferably constructed so that it may not only be used for anoutside music rack or support, as shown in Fig. 1, but may also beinserted into the piano in order that itmay be used for a. music supportwhen the piano cover 2 is open. To such end the ends of the members 5-5are grooved as at 11, and the sides of the piano case are provided withrails or shoulders 12 adapted to fit in the grooves 11, whereby the rackor support 4 may be slid back and forth in the piano and also into andout of the piano case. WVhen the cover is to be elevated and the pianoplayed in such condition, the member 41 is removed from the position ontop of the cover as shown in Fig. 1, and is slid into the piano case soas to be in position within the same to permit playing with the coveropen.

Thus a single piano rack will serve for the double purpose of an outsiderack for use with the piano cover closed, and also as an inside rack tobe used with the piano cover open.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A piano having a portable music rack, said piano and rack beingprovided with means for supporting the rack slidably in the piano, saidmeans permitting the rack to be bodily withdrawn from the piano, andsaid rack being provided with cushioned feet adapted to rest on the topof the piano case.

2. A grand piano anc a portable music rack therein, said piano and rackbeing provided with means for supporting the rack so that the same maybe slid horizontally in the piano, said means permitting the rack to beslid bodily out of the piano and said rack having its under sideprovided with cushioned projections.

3. A piano having keys and a front hinged cover section, rails on theinner surfaces of the sides of the piano beneath said cover sechavingconnecting end portions, rooves in the under outer margins of saiportions forming shoulders adapted to rest upon said rails and permitsliding movement of the rack, said portions having feet on their undersurfaces, and said rack being removable from said rails and adapted torest upon said feet on said cover section when the latter is closed.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day ofDecember, A. D., 1918.

MARQUETTE A. HEALY.

